Abstract: There is provided a personal care product having a body side liner, a baffle and an indicator strip with two ends. The indicator has an amine sensitive dye near at least one end. The indicator extends from the target area just below the liner to just above the baffle such that the dye deposit is visible to an unaided eye. The dye changes color in the presence of amines which are characteristic of infection, thus alerting the user to the possibility of infection. Such an indicator placed in a feminine hygiene pad, for example, may be useful in the diagnosis of vaginitis.

Abstract: A multilumen tracheal tube or catheter is disclosed. The tube has a plurality of suction lumens, each having a suction port. A rotatable suction port collar is provided. The suction port collar has an inlet and an outlet. The collar overlaps each suction port and is capable of selectively occluding a number of the suction ports while enabling unimpeded passage between a remainder of the ports and the outlet.

Abstract: A heat and moisture exchanger (HME) adaptor for a closed suction catheter assembly having one end in communication with a closed suction catheter assembly and another end configured to rotationally engage and releasably hold the HME is disclosed herein. The adaptor may include a retainer having an aperture that engages projections on the HME to releasably secure the adaptor to the HME. The adaptor may include a retaining ring that may be deformed or rotated to engage or disengage projections on the HME. The adaptor may be used with extended use closed suction catheter assemblies.

Abstract: A multilumen tracheal tube or catheter is disclosed. The tube has a plurality of ingress and egress lumens, each having a suction or discharge port as appropriate. At least one rotatable collar is provided. The collar overlaps each port and is capable of selecting various combinations of suction and discharge ports without increasing the likelihood of cross contaminating any others.

Abstract: Medical adhesive may be removed by applying a solution including tetrahydrofurfuryl acetate (THFA) to the surface upon which is located the adhesive and rubbing the surface to facilitate removal of the adhesive. The solution may be applied to a wipe before application to the surface and the wipe may be used to rub the surface. The surface may be living or dead human or animal skin, hard surfaces and medical instruments. Various additional ingredients may be added to the solution, like perfumes, emollients and other commonly known skin products and polymer diluents.

Abstract: A medical device clamping assembly includes proximal and distal axially aligned members. The proximal and distal members are movable relative to each other. A channel is defined through the members for receipt of at least a portion of a treatment device therethrough. A clamping member is configured between the proximal and distal members and defines a portion of the channel. The clamping member is actuated between an unclamped configuration and a clamped configuration by moving one of the distal or proximal members relative to the other. In its clamped position, the clamping member clamps upon and restricts axial movement of the treatment device through the assembly; however, the assembling may move on or within the treatment device and does not necessarily limit at least partial retraction of the device from a patient but rather only restricts insertion of the device beyond that point at which the assembly contacts a stopper.

Abstract: An adapter for use on a suction lumen of a catheter is disclosed. The adapter is capable of extending the suction capabilities of the catheter to a point distal to a suction port in the catheter. The adapter is at least partially inserted into the catheter. The adapter contains a plug and a duct. The duct has an inlet and an outlet. The duct effectively extends the reach of a suction source and the plug is adapted to seal the catheter between the adapter and the distal end.

Abstract: Solvatochromic dyes are used herein to indicate the presence of bacteria by incorporating them into various substrates such as films, woven and nonwoven fabrics, paper towels, coform and airlaid materials and bonded carded webs. These dyes change color in response to a change in polarity of the environment. Since water is a polar solvent and most bacteria are made from non-polar substances, the presence of bacteria changes the polarity of the environment, triggering a change visible by the unaided eye. A lateral flow device incorporating solvatochromic dyes and a method of detecting bacteria are also included.

Abstract: A surgical drape for covering a patient during a surgical procedure is provided. The drape has a base sheet having an upper surface, a lower surface, and a plurality of edges. A fenestration is formed in the base sheet positionable over the surgical site. A reinforcement panel having an upper surface, a lower surface, and a periphery is also provided. The lower surface of the reinforcement panel has a pressure sensitive adhesive applied thereto. The panel is adjustably manipulated and adhered by the pressure sensitive adhesive so as to occlude a portion of the fenestration in the base sheet at the time of the surgical procedure.

Abstract: An adhesive bandage of the type used on acute wounds, burn wounds, minor wounds, or irritations includes a first layer for covering the wound site and an area around the wound site. The first layer includes a top surface and bottom surface. A second adhesive layer is situated over the first layer bottom surface, for adhering the adhesive bandage to a wound site. A third absorbent layer is situated over the second layer, for absorbing exudates from the wound site. A fourth layer is situated over the third absorbent layer for allowing limited flow of exudates from the wound site to the third layer. At least one each of an antimicrobial agent and a hemostatic agent or a multifunctional wound healing agent are each associated with the adhesive bandage in a position where the agents will come in contact with the wound site.

Abstract: There is provided a thermal therapy pad useful in relieving pain and having a plurality of easily removable layers on the side of the pad normally facing the skin. The removal of layers results in increased heat removal or delivery to the skin. The removable layers may be re-attached desirably the user find the pad too hot, or may be moved to the opposite side of the pad, or discarded. The pad may use an iron powder reactive core which reacts exothermically with air to provide heating or water and other reactants that react endothermically. More than one core may be used to further tailor the amount and rapidity of the temperature change.

Abstract: There is provided a resilient, three dimensional material having fibrous texture and appearance and capable of fluid handling. It consists of a top surface and a bottom surface wherein fiber-like elements typically extend from one surface to the other forming flat to undulating surfaces characterized by a multiplicity of interconnected fluid passageways. Deformed, discontinuous film-like or encapsulated regions connect fiber-like elements and stabilize the material. The material of this invention is unique based on the three principle characteristics which are communicated in this application: 1) ff(?)<0.87, 2) SA/VV<186 cm2/cm3, and 3) caliper<0.150 inches. This material is useful for a number of purposes, such as for use as a liner for personal care products like diapers, absorbent underpants, swim wear, feminine hygiene products, adult incontinence products and the like.

Abstract: A method of producing a printed substrate so as to improve the adhesion, colorfastness and washfastness of either reactive or acid dye-based ink jet inks printed onto the substrate, the method includes the steps of providing a substrate, treating the substrate with an aqueous coating formulation comprising a cationic polymer or copolymer, a fabric softener, treating the substrate of step with an imbibing aqueous solution of either urea, and an ingredient selected from sodium bicarbonate, sodium carbonate or combinations thereof, or ammonium sulfate, drying the substrate, printing on the substrate with either an acid or reactive dye-based ink, depending on the coating and post treating the printed substrate.

Abstract: There is provided a personal care product that has a liquid impermeable backsheet, a liquid permeable topsheet, and an absorbent composite located between the topsheet and backsheet. The absorbent composite has an upper layer made of pulp cellulose fiber in an amount of from 80 to 95 weight percent, at most 20 weight percent binder and has a density between about 0.03 and 0.15 g/cc and a basis weight between about 20 to 75 gsm. The composite has a lower layer having from 80 to 95 weight percent pulp, at most 20 weight percent binder, and has a density greater than the upper layer and between 0.08 and 0.20 g/cc, and a basis weight between 120 and 200 gsm.

Abstract: There is provided a surge material for personal care products with a first creased layer and at least a second layer, where the layers are in face-to-face relation to one another and bonded together. The first has creases with a depth of between 0.25 and 2 mm and a frequency of between 5 and 100 per centimeter in the cross-machine and the second layer may have densities of between 0.01 and 0.05 g/cc and a basis weight between 25 and 250 gsm.

Abstract: There is provided an absorbent system that not only takes in fluid, but then transfers that fluid further beneath the first composite. This is achieved in this invention through paired permeability, capillarity, and void volume of the first and second composites. The invention is an absorbent system composed of at least two absorbent composites that have complementary structural/surface energy characteristics. Such an absorbent system has a first absorbent Composite A which has a first permeability, a first capillarity, and a first void volume and at least one second absorbent Composite B which has a second capillarity and a second porosity multiplied by second thickness. The first absorbent Composite A is in liquid communication or contact with at least one second absorbent Composite B, such that the first absorbent Composite A, and the second absorbent Composite B have a fluid partitioning amount in Composite A, a third triple intake time (IT3) and a rewet value.

Abstract: A leukocyte depletion filter media includes nonwoven material or microfiber glass which has been coated with a polysaccharide originally containing functionalized side chains capable of crosslinking with each other and the filter media. The leukocyte depletion filter media preferably includes a polysaccharide having a charge density of up to 5 meq/g.